Switch-box.



No. 886,352. I Y PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906. '0. E. YOUMANS.

S'WITGH BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

Wdwwow gwwwm A7 v WW UNITED v STATES PATENT orrron.

CHARLES ERNEST YOUMANS, OF YONKERS, NElVYORK. ASSlGNOh. TO JULIA HALL YOUMANS, ()F YONKERS', NEW YORK.

SWlTCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 13,1904. $erial No. 212,408.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Enxns'r l or:- MANS, a citizen of the United States, residing Boxes, of which the iollowingis a specilication.

This invention rclati s to protective boxes for electric switches.

The object or the invention .is to provide a box of the character described which shall be water-tight to protect the switch against ravages of moisture where it is installed in wet or damp places, as on board ship, in breweries, greenhouses, &-c., which maybe manufacturedindependently of the switch, which is adapted to receive a large number of difl'erent switches of usual construction andwithout special adaptation toothe box, which may be assembled with the switch with a minimum of care and labor, and whichis provided with means whereby the switch may beoperated from the exterior of the box when i is inclo'sed thereby.

T he invention can be best set forth in connection with. the accompanyingdrawings,of which v Figure 1 is a vertical section of the box, showing the in cans secured therein for operating the switch and also a switch located within the box. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the box, and Fig. 3 shows details in perspective of the parts composing the switch-operating means.

l Referring to the drawings, the box com prises a body A, which may be circular, as shown, or of anyotl er suitable conformation, and switch-operating means B, secured in a wall of the box at any suitable point, but

which is preferably mounted in the lid (l, as,, shown. Within the box is mounted a switch E, which in this case is shownas a rotary snap-switch of a well-known type. The con struction of this switch, however, 1s immaterial to this invention, as it may be of any toengage with the operating-handle that the lid may fit therein and be supported by the-shoulder l, a gasketQ, of rubber or other suitable material, being interposed bet ecn the shoulder and the lid to render the joint water-tight. Preferably the switch is raised from the bottom of the box by ribs 3. The switclro ierating means may comprise a conical plug fitting in a conical hole in the lid, a ground joint being formed between the lid and plug. This plug may be movably secured in the lid by means of a plate 5, secured to the bottom oi the plug and bearing against the inside of the lid. Downwardlyextending irojections 6 from the plate 5 enge w ith the handle 7 of the switch, whereby when the plug is turned by the handle 8 or other suitable operating means upon the exterior of the box the switch-handle 7 will be turned to operate the switch in awell-known manner.

Preferably the plate 5 and its projections 6 are made of hard fiber, so that the switchbox is entirely insulated from the switch, and

the insulation of the parts maybe greatly \Vithout being limited vto the precise construction shown, I claim, 1

1. A water-tight switch-box comprising a. bodyportlon and a lid having a tightomt therewith, said lid having a seat formed therein, a plug in said sea-t making a tight joint therewith, said plug being provided cx tenorly with an operating-handle and interiorly with a plate adapted to hold said plug- -in its seat, and means on said plate adapted I of an electric switch, the combination therewith of an electric switch having an operating-handlc and ineloscd in said box.

2. The combination with av watebtight box provided with a conduit making a tight joint therewith and. with a plurality of supporting'ribs on its interior, and having a tightjointed lid formed with a seat, a plug in said seat making a tight oint. therewith, said plug being provided'cxtcriorly with an operatinghandle and intcriorly with a. plate adapted to hold said plug in its seat, and two forked.

projections mounted on said plate and adapted to oneratively engage with the operatingits-spindle, 'said switch arranged within said handle of. an electric switch, of an electric switch-provided with an operating-handle on box and supported on said ribs.

3. The combination with an electric switch having anoperating-handle mounted .on its spindle, of a box comprising a body portion and a lid therefor, said box inclosing said switch but forming no part thereof, said lid formed with a central raised portion provided with a cavity adapted to house the handle of 3 said switch, and having a conical hole in said raised portion-forining a seat, a conical plug rotatably secured in Said hole by a plate attached thereto, said plate bearingon the in terior wall of said lid, a plurality of forked projections secured on said plate and adapt,

ed to operatively engage with the handle of said switch, and an operating-handle attached. to the exterior of said plug.

In testinrony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

